Good bye Battles/Campus town liquors building

**cyclone87** · 09-14-2012, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by alarson

They might do well financially, but FB was much better before he took over.

This may be true, however FB wasn't doing so well financially which is why it was sold in the first place. Fact is their burritos are still good and I can can get one cheaper than i can at Poncheros (considering I like grilled veggies and they charge an extra dollar for them).

**Al_4_State** · 09-14-2012, 10:15 AM

I had FB the last time I was in Ames and found it incredible.

That could have more to do with the fact that I live an hour from the nearest burrito joint, so I'm quite deprived these days, but nonetheless it was highly enjoyable.

**longtimeclone** · 09-14-2012, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by cyclone87

This may be true, however FB wasn't doing so well financially which is why it was sold in the first place. Fact is their burritos are still good and I can can get one cheaper than i can at Poncheros (considering I like grilled veggies and they charge an extra dollar for them).

Yeah FB has always been my favorite because of the choices they give you and I really like their ingredients. With that said the "good ole days" of them double wrapping burritos are gone.

**RayShimley** · 09-14-2012, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by ribsnwhiskey

You really want to re-hash that entire debacle? I was trying to make a point with some brevity.

Yeah, the council should've been able to foresee the developer going bankrupt and the economy tanking...but they didn't.

Right, my point was just that maybe it wasn't such a bad thing that this particular developer didn't end up building a mall at that point in time.

I'm with you on wanting to see Ames grow Ribs, I just think there is also room for deliberation and strategic development. Sometimes it's good to have at least one contrarian on a City Council because you certainly don't want it to just be a rubber stamp. Overall, I think Ames has done a good job expanding slowly without massive sprawl and blight. Even North Grand Mall is finally getting their act together (I hope).

If you graduated from ISU in 2005 like me, and returned for this first time this year, you likely wouldn't recognize more than a hand full of businesses along South Duff from your time in school.

**IcSyU** · 09-14-2012, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by RayShimley

Right, my point was just that maybe it wasn't such a bad thing that this particular developer didn't end up building a mall at that point in time.

I'm with you on wanting to see Ames grow Ribs, I just think there is also room for deliberation and strategic development. Sometimes it's good to have at least one contrarian on a City Council because you certainly don't want it to just be a rubber stamp. Overall, I think Ames has done a good job expanding slowly without massive sprawl and blight. Even North Grand Mall is finally getting their act together (I hope).

If you graduated from ISU in 2005 like me, and returned for this first time this year, you likely wouldn't recognize more than a hand full of businesses along South Duff from your time in school.

Which is a HUGE step in the right direction. Hell holes like Happy Joe's and the bowling alley needed to go for that area to do anything.

**RayShimley** · 09-14-2012, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by IcSyU

Which is a HUGE step in the right direction. Hell holes like Happy Joe's and the bowling alley needed to go for that area to do anything.

I agree!

**dtISU** · 09-14-2012, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by IcSyU

Which is a HUGE step in the right direction. Hell holes like Happy Joe's and the bowling alley needed to go for that area to do anything.

Happy Joes is gone? Oh, nooooooooo......

**ribsnwhiskey** · 09-14-2012, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by RayShimley

I agree!

If you didn't pick up on it, I'm not a big fan of Goodman. This dates back to the mid-90s when he was just the gyro guy. I'll leave it at that.

**VTXCyRyD** · 09-14-2012, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by dtISU

Happy Joes is gone? Oh, nooooooooo......

Happy Joes has been closed for a while now

**RayShimley** · 09-14-2012, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by VTXCyRyD

Happy Joes has been closed for a while now

Since the flood in 2010 I believe.

**Swanson10** · 09-14-2012, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by IcSyU

Which is a HUGE step in the right direction. Hell holes like Happy Joe's and the bowling alley needed to go for that area to do anything.

Yea, that monopoly is working out well for the pocketbooks of the people of Ames. Who splits up the lanes on a bowling ALLEY?

**HuxleyClone** · 09-14-2012, 06:11 PM

I am amazed though that they are allowing these new businesses to build on top of mountains that are created to prevent flooding. The established businesses and apartments in that area will be flat out screwed when it floods again. Check out Enterprise right next to Texas Road House. What are they- ten feet lower???

**chuckd4735** · 10-26-2012, 04:48 PM

It also appears that Kum n Go bought the lot at the NW corner of Mortensen and South Dakota, which is directly across the street from the Kum n Go that was built 6 or 7 years ago.

**alarson** · 10-26-2012, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by chuckd4735

It also appears that Kum n Go bought the lot at the NW corner of Mortensen and South Dakota, which is directly across the street from the Kum n Go that was built 6 or 7 years ago.

Odd, i dont know why they'd need a new location down there given they just bought that one (it was something else for a short time before it was a kum n go right?)

Where are you finding this?

**Frak** · 10-26-2012, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by RayShimley

It "just died"? That's not how I remember it. I seem to remember the investor in the land getting foreclosed upon after failing to secure a single leaser for the proposed retail space. Not sure it's in the city's best interest to let some developer who can't remain solvent for a couple years develop 800,000 sq ft of future urban blight.

I think that you remember wrong. The developer had some leasers in line...including a Dillards as an anchor. The city council voted against it, led by Goodman, Rice and Popken. Mahayni and Goodhue were the only ones voting for it and Goodhue moved. The developer was set to pay for the entire project, including taking utilities and a bike trail across the interstate. But, it drug out long enough that the economy tanked and by the time Rice and Popken were voted out, a yes vote by the council was too little too late. Yes, the developer ended up going bankrupt. But if the site was already built a year or two prior, someone would have bought it from him. Presently, Ames citizens still go to DM and Ankeny to shop in hordes.

Now, I'm not saying that things aren't improving or haven't improved. The new Kohls and TJ Maxx will help matters and Duff has really taken off. But I believe Goodman has been more of a thorn in matters than a help. Guys like Jamie Larson are putting development in Ames on the forefront. He and people like Culhane. The Research Park is doing well and Leath will only help there. The council's Main Street facade program has made a huge difference there. Campustown is the one place that needs help and personally, I don't know that K&G putting a big store there is a bad thing as long as the old K&G spot is redeveloped.